how to provide heat for roach breeding?

[lisagr07]

ok..
how do you roach breeders provide heat to your roaches?
i'm using a rubbermaid tote, cutting a hole in the top and putting screen over that. there will be egg flats along with foood and water crystals....
i want them to be happy and procreate, i understand that they need heat for that to happen, how do i go about providing them with it?
i've read about heat tape and reptile heat pads... what works with the rubbermaid tote and won't melt it?

thanks,, lisa

 

[justjumpit621]

Under tank/container heat pad. You can get them cheap at any store that sells reptile supplies. They stick directly to the tank.

 

[ghettomike]

You can also use a therapeutic heating pad from the pharmacy, just make sure it does not have an automatic shutoff built into it. They do not get hot enough to melt the plastic. I paid approx $20.00 CDN. Also, when I started my colony I was using water crystals but because of the heat I found they didn't last very long so now I just cut an orange in half and put it in for moisture and it usually lasts a few weeks.

 

[lisagr07]

Under tank/container heat pad. You can get them cheap at any store that sells reptile supplies. They stick directly to the tank.

there won't be any issue of the plastic tote melting from the reptile heat pad?

 

[lisagr07]

You can also use a therapeutic heating pad from the pharmacy, just make sure it does not have an automatic shutoff built into it. They do not get hot enough to melt the plastic. I paid approx $20.00 CDN. Also, when I started my colony I was using water crystals but because of the heat I found they didn't last very long so now I just cut an orange in half and put it in for moisture and it usually lasts a few weeks.

my husband asked me about just using a heating pad intended for people... i wasn't sure if that was an option....

thanks for the orange idea versus water crystals,, sounds healthier!!

 

[jannb]

It's fairly warm in our garage and we keep them there with no heat pad and they still multiply like crazy.

 

[lisagr07]

It's fairly warm in our garage and we keep them there with no heat pad and they still multiply like crazy.

hey Jann,
i was wondering if i could keep them out in the garage but it seems sooo hot out there... what is too hot for them???
how hot do you think your garage gets? is there much ventilation going on in there?
i'd rather they be outside, but whatever i need to do i'll do...

 

[Ntinsley4]

I just bought a starter colony (I think like 40 or so), and I keep them in a 10-gallon tank with a reptile heat pad on the underside. I am also wondering how long will it take to get them to multiply like people say they do??? They are eating plenty of calcium-fortified water crystals and cricket crack. Thanks.

 

[jannb]

hey Jann,
i was wondering if i could keep them out in the garage but it seems sooo hot out there... what is too hot for them???
how hot do you think your garage gets? is there much ventilation going on in there?
i'd rather they be outside, but whatever i need to do i'll do...

It gets pretty hot our there and not allot of ventilation, all it has is a ceiling fan and two windows. Ours stay out there year round and we had a cold winter for FL. It got down in the low 40's a couple of nights and my husband did put them in the house, right inside the garage door right before we went to bed and put them back out first thing in the morning. We didn't even use any heat in the winter and they still thrived.

 

[lisagr07]

I just bought a starter colony (I think like 40 or so), and I keep them in a 10-gallon tank with a reptile heat pad on the underside. I am also wondering how long will it take to get them to multiply like people say they do??? They are eating plenty of calcium-fortified water crystals and cricket crack. Thanks.

hey Nancy,, are you keeping yours inside? lisa

 

[lisagr07]

It gets pretty hot our there and not allot of ventilation, all it has is a ceiling fan and two windows. Ours stay out there year round and we had a cold winter for FL. It got down in the low 40's a couple of nights and my husband did put them in the house, right inside the garage door right before we went to bed and put them back out first thing in the morning. We didn't even use any heat in the winter and they still thrived.

jann,
i think i'm going to try them out in the garage. i've got about 250ish coming Friday and i don't want to do them in right off the bat!! but having them out in the garage sounds sooo much better than in the house,,,, but whatever needs to be done...

 

[Breanna]

I live in AZ and it is in the 90's now and will be in the 100-110 range by the end of the week would it be too hot to keep them outside or in the garage, im thinking of starting a colony